The two-story combined-class schoolhouse
Stood from 1874 to 1969
The halls were boisterous until 1960
Then it was empty until torn down
My sisters attended there
But alas I was too young
I never had the teachers they adored
I only got to know the playground
That survived a few more years
The merry-go-round was twirled
The swings could be pumped high
The teeter-totter squeaked on
The ball diamonds were used
The tennis courts too
The teens gathered
Out of our mothers’ view
Finally, the implements removed
The playground became a field of grass
Where my memories are ghosts
This true story was written in response to Charli Mills March 13, 2023, prompt from Carrot Ranch Literary: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about a place where children once played. It can be a field, a playground, or any place that attracted children to play. But now it is empty. Abandoned. Go where the prompt leads!